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Buffy Season 7 DVD: Not another review!
Yes here is another review about "Buffy" season 7. But this reviewer has his own opinion about this season, the potentials, Dawn, Ashanti, Anya and more. |
Slayer's final season resurrects cult show's fandom on DVD
By ALEJANDRO SALINAS
FLAT HAT REVIEWS EDITOR
 So, after surviving a network change, six seasons, a musical, dieing twice and stopping the apocalypse … a lot, Buffy Summers, Joss Whedon's ditzy California blonde hottie, finally came across her greatest enemy yet: a house full of pre-pubescent, annoying-as-hell potentials -- as if dealing with irritating Dawn weren't bad enough. Can't the slayer ever get a break?!
OK, so not quite, but that's what the final season of the show felt like to many. Now, don't get me wrong, I utterly worship Joss Whedon's creation and have genuine feelings for the Scoobies (with the exception of Dawn), but the show's final season felt rather, well, boring. Not quite "Dawson's" boring but (as Andrew would say) "Episode I" boring. It all started well enough; Sunnydale High reopening, the big bad of the season revealing itself to be The First (as in the first evil), Willow coping with hocus pocus withdrawal, Xander looking sharp in a fancy tux and Buffy getting a job as a counselor of some sorts. Even the less prominent Scoobies got their time in the spotlight -- albeit with mixed results. Dawn, again, proved in both the season opener "Lessons" and the dismally silly "Him" that she had more personality as a blob of energy. If only Buffy had pushed her into the portal at the end of season five …
On the other hand, the criminally overlooked Anya finally got the story arc she deserved. Sure, season six's wedding arc hinted at the depth behind the delightfully blunt ex-vengeance demon, but it wasn't until this season's "Selfless" that viewers finally got to learn more about Anya as a person -- a real person.  From her beginnings and her unique connection to bunnies, to a flashback to the musical episode with an all new number all to herself, to her quest for some sort of identity independent of Xander, Anya transcended the role of comic relief and became a genuine, fleshed-out character. Forget about Buffy and Angel/Spike, the Anya/Xander relationship, with its candidness, bitterness, lust, frustrating stagnation and closure, proved to be the show's most endearing.
The season peaked with the nifty "Conversations with Dead People" which brought back another scene-stealing character: the is-he-or-isn't-he-gay nerd and former villain Andrew. The mere presence of this hilarious, hopeless big bad-wannabe alongside a bewitching song by Angie Hart made this episode easily one of the show's best. Like top 10 best. After that it all went downhill. Episodes like "Get it Done," where Buffy discovers the origins of the slayer lineage, and "The Killer in Me" lacked some serious spark, while "Potential" and "First Date" were simply horrible. Dawn as a possible potential? Boring. Ashanti making a cameo? Preposterous. Spike and his chip? Sooo last season.
 "Storyteller," told mostly through Andrew's skewed re-imagining (via videotape recordings) of the slayer's exploits brought the show back to life and prepared viewers for the return of two staple characters: Faith (the once-evil-now-reformed other slayer) and Angel (do I even have to explain?). Finally everything came full circle in "Chosen," rightly both written and directed by Joss Whedon. Our Slayer had an epiphany (as she occasionally does), the Scoobies and the army of potentials prepared for battle, the Hellmouth was opened and the First … well, I wouldn't want to ruin it for those unfortunate enough to miss the ending when it first aired. Just keep an eye out for a clever, simple and naughty 'cookie dough' speech.
The DVD set also includes a series of four fascinating featurettes (the best being "The Last Sundown," a look back at Joss Whedon's favorite episodes) with commentaries from the show's writers and producers as well as from the show's stars. Sadly, Sarah Michelle Gellar is MIA. However, the outtakes, wrap footage and commentary from Joss Whedon should console any fan. The man is pure genius. The show: just sheer delight.
 A look back at the Scoobies
Buffy Summers
The one. The slayer. Quite blonde and quite clueless. Aside from slaying she also ocassionally beds vamps (but only if they have a soul). Not too good with authority but keen on fashion.
Willow Rosenberg
Buffy's best friend. Went from quintessential nerd to wiccan to evil and veiny (as well as transitioning from boys to girls). Can't carry a tune but great with books and the occult.
Xander Harris
The heart of the gang. Awkward with women and not too good at handling rejection. He might not have any special power, but Xander's sense of humo make him essential to the group.
Rupert Giles
Buffy's watcher. Unusually sexually active for his age and great with the guitar. A bad boy in his times, Giles functions as the voice or reason in the gang. Most of the time anyway.
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Buffy the Vampire Slayer, its characters, and the Buffy logo are the property of Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, the WB Television Network, and Twentieth Century Fox. Angel-The Series, its characters, and the Buffy logo are the property of Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, the WB Television Network, and Twentieth Century Fox.Other Series, their characters and logos are property of the proper right owners.
(c)Slayerverse 2006 [Imprint] |
